1. Do I need to
contact the Consumer Protection Branch regarding this matter?

Answer: No. Other than completing
and returning the enclosed "Consumer Declaration" in the envelope provided,
it is not necessary to contact the Consumer Protection Branch at this time.
Until the defendant has been apprehended, we do not have any further advice
or information to provide you. We will notify you of further developments through
the Office's website. You may access case information under "Cases" on the Office
of Consumer of Litigation portion of the United States Department of Justice
website, www.usdoj.gov/civil/CPB/, under U.S. v. Ron Schichtman. Due to the
large number of people contacted regarding this case, you may direct all additional
correspondence to the following address:

2. Did the person
I purchased the vehicle from know that the odometer was rolled back?

Answer: Our investigation has revealed
that Ron Schichtman purchased these vehicles from the Harrisonburg Auto Auction
and the Belair Auto Auction, rolled back the odometers on the vehicles, and
then re-sold the vehicles all within a few weeks or months after having purchased
them. In some instances, Schichtman (and a few people working for him) resold
the vehicles directly to unsuspecting consumers. This was typically done through
an advertisement in the Washington Post that appeared to have been placed by
a private owner of the vehicle. In other instances, Schichtman sold the vehicles
to auto dealerships. Whether the person who sold you the vehicle knew that the
odometer was rolled back depends on when and from whom you purchased the vehicle.

If you responded to a newspaper advertisement
and purchased the car directly from Schichtman, he obviously knew about the
rollback.

If you responded to a newspaper advertisement
and purchased the vehicle from an individual claiming to represent Schichtman,
we believe the seller was also involved in the scheme to defraud you.

If you purchased the car from an automobile
dealership, our investigation has revealed no evidence that the dealership
knew about the rollback.

If you purchased the vehicle from a private
individual not claiming to be Schichtman (or someone representing Schichtman)
and you purchased the car more than several months after Schichtman purchased
the car at the Harrisonburg Auto Auction or the Belair Auto Auction, there
is a very good chance that the person who sold you the car was not aware of
the rollback. Schichtman purchased the last of these cars in May 1996. The
exact date he purchased your car is identified on the enclosed auction invoice.
In these circumstances, the person who sold you the car is most likely an
innocent victim like yourself.

3. Should I contact
the person (or automobile dealership) who sold me the vehicle?

Answer: You will have to decide
what course of action to take, in consultation with your attorney should you
choose to obtain one. The Department of Justice cannot advise you in this regard.
Bear in mind that the person who sold you the car may not have had knowledge
of the rollback. It is nevertheless true that automobile dealerships sometimes
compensate individuals who purchase a car from them when the car has a rolled-back
odometer. Your own attorney can best advise you of your rights in this regard.
See question and answer #6 regarding finding an attorney if you do not have
one.

4. What government
agencies should I contact regarding the odometer rollback?

Answer: You may wish to contact
your state's Attorney General's Office. That office will be able to provide
you with information on your state's laws regarding odometer violations. You
may find the phone number of your AG's Office in your local phone book. If you
live in Virginia or Maryland, you may use the following addresses:

Virginia: Office of the Attorney General
900 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804)786-2071
mail@oag.state.va.us

Answer: You can request your vehicle's
title history through your local DMV office. You may also wish to obtain a vehicle
history report through one of a number of commercial firms that collect motor
vehicle histories and offer them to the public. An internet search for the terms
"car title history" should produce a list of several such firms.

Answer: You may wish to contact
a private attorney to determine your legal rights and remedies in this matter.
Some lawyers specialize in consumer law cases, including cases involving automobiles.
You may be able to locate an attorney by contacting the National Association
of Consumer Advocates at (202) 332-2500. You may also wish to contact your state
bar association for a referral.

Answer: Federal law requires that
you notify any subsequent purchaser of the car that, due to the rollback, the
true mileage of the car is unknown. This notice is designed to prevent other
innocent persons from being victimized.

8. Will I receive
any compensation resulting from this prosecution of Ron Schichtman?

Answer: If we apprehend Schichtman
and if he is convicted, the United States will seek restitution for losses suffered
by all of the victims we can identify in this case. Whether he will be apprehended
remains to be seen. Whether restitution can be collected will also depend on
Schichtman's assets. Please check the website identified above for updates regarding
the status of the case.